words of advice??

[Lacedolphin]

Angel has become very calm, doesn't bite, dosn't run from me when I get near the cage, and will step up on my finger while in the cage so I decided it was time for some outside the cage training and some exercise. His wings were already clipped so no problem there. Getting him out was not a problem but soon as he got out he wouldn't stay on me. I tried toys and treats and he kept flying away in fear. So after catching him I craddled him on my hands. I was barley touching him and he laid FLAT on my chest. I talked to him and petted him and he held still. As long as I had one hand covering him even if I wasn't touching him with that hand I could pet him wherever I wanted. Head, wings,back he just sat there. Well,laid there. Then he walked over to where my arm was bent and sat there in the crook of my arm and let me pet him. He didn't seem to mind as long as one hand or my arm was covering him. At no point did he ever bite and he could've ran and didnt. Is this good or bad. Now I'm confused. He didn't like my shoulder, but he liked being held like a hampster?? lol Can someone explain this behavior to me? I worked with him 10 mins like this and put him back. I didn't want to overly stress him on his first day out.

[cypher543]

I'm not even a Budgie owner, yet... but it sounds like he trusts you a lot. So, when you are covering him, he feels protected. When he's on your shoulder, he's out in the open, and feels scared. I think that the longer you spend time with him outside of his cage, covered or uncovered, he'll being to realize that you aren't going to let anything happen to him (which is why you are covering him), and it'll give him a safe place to survey the surroundings.

Again, I'm not a Budgie owner yet, so If anyone thinks I'm wrong, please tell me.

[Donna]

Hello Lacedolphin,

I have two new Budgies and they are both totally different in their response to me while out of the cage. One is perfectly content to stay on my finger and the other one is doing a little better about staying on my finger but usually wants to fly away from me. (Of course he hears the other Budgies in a nearby room and so that may be part of it.) Just a moment ago I was working with him and he kept flying off my finger. But then I decided to get a piece of millet and he sat on my finger for a long time to eat it. (He had never done that before so I felt like I made some progress.) I just bought this Budgie a week ago and so I really haven't spent much time with him yet. But already, I can see a little progress by using the millet. I probably just need to spend more time being around his cage with him in it. He's in quarantine in my bedroom and so I don't go in there as often as I should. And he doesn't really have any noise going on and so I will probably put some music or something in there for him. That way he won't react to sounds so much.

My other new Budgie (that is just about done with quarantine) loves to perch on my finger. But if she's not in the mood for me to give her a kiss, or reach for her, or not in the mood for me to stroke her, she has started pecking at me. I crack up because usually I can just move my finger slowly towards her after she pecks and she stops pecking. She's so funny! Anyway, this Budgie is just like yours in that she hasn't wanted to stay on my shoulder and she loves it when I just cup my hand over her. She lies against my chest for a long long time because she feels safe there. Now that she's feeling more "at home" she doesn't want to be completely covered with my hand. Usually she pokes her head out and wants to be somewhat exposed. It just depends on her mood.

I am finding out that a very quiet Budgie that doesn't move much, or chirp, or play, is actually saying, "I'm still unsure of things and I need more time to adjust." I wouldn't worry too much about things right now. You sound like you are doing fine. Just take it easy and slow and I bet he comes out of his shyness, soon.

Donna

[redgirl]

My Skyla is the same as your budgie, she likes to sit in my hand too but she mostly steps up on my finger now. I think maybe she was scared before and thats why she would sit in my hand because she also likes to be petted or so I thought bit I am not sure if it was because she was a little scared and she just put up with it. If my daughter pets her she pecks now as a little warning because she obviously doesn't like it really, so your budgie may like it or maybe feels a little threatened. I am not saying your budgie doesn't like you or anything I think it just takes time for them to trust us and once they feel they can trust us that may be when we wont be able to pet them anymore, basically they start to feel superior over us. Edie my first budgie was the same and now if you pet her she gets abgry and will bite xxx:)

[Lacedolphin]

see, I was thinking he was scared, which I expected, but what I didn't expect is after I moved my hand he didn't move and just sat there to be petted,lol. He has never even tried to bite me ( which I also expected to be nailed and wasn't ) and I know he's still skiddish and not sure, but he seems to like being covered with my hands and not out in the open.He kept trying to fly away from me and wouldn't sit on my shoulder or in my hair unless I have a hand covering him. I wanted to know if he is afraid to move because he is afraid of my hand or is he not moving because the feels safer with my hand there. When I first cradled him he was breathing hard ( expected on the first time out) but after a few mins of petting on my chest, he didn't wanna leave and stopped breathing hard. Even though he doesn't seem to like being on my shoulder, until he gets used to it and more sure about himself, is it ok just to craddle him? Does the fact that he'll peek over my hands and look around but not try to run a good thing or bad??

[Amber]

hehe, my budgie loves my shoulder...when she sits on my hand, he'll stay like 2 seconds, but on my shoulder, we even garden together, lol

[softie]

My budgies dont seem to mind my hand or my shoulders. Or anyplace else for that matter. But Gracey cant sit still on my shoulder, he'll climb up my hair and up on top of my head hehe

[pretty_bird]

It sounds like your budgie was used to his cage...it was his familiar place that was "his" and he felt safe...as you do in your home. When you took him out, suddenly he wasn't in familiar territory anymore...everything is bigger, new, etc. You wouldn't feel safe suddenly being in the middle of NYC..especially at night...maybe that's what it was like to him. I haven't really heard of this, but maybe you shouldn't let him out everyday, but maybe a couple or few times a week for 5-10 minutes. Try not to take him out of the cage, just leave the door open and let him work his way out...he needs to feel safe and establish a familiarity with the new environment and feel secure. He seems to trust you though...it sounds like you spent a lot of time with him, so that would explain why. He felt safe and protected again when you held him...he's familiar with you. I think it would be smart to make sure his wings are definitely clipped so he can't fly until he's okay with being outside of his cage...otherwise, if he's panicking, it may only end it tragedy such as slamming into a wall, etc. Take care, and I hope for the best!!

[Lacedolphin]

Thanks so much for the advice hun. I appriciate everyones opinions. His wings were already clipped when I got him so he' can't fly to well, only glides to the floor. He still doesn't want to go anywhere near my shoulder, but I have convinced him its ok to sit on top of my monitor. He'll play on my desk some now, but he's still really skiddish. His cage is on top my computer desk so I can see him and he can see me all of the time. I was thinking of getting 2 when I got him,and I'm glad I didn't. He's a little handfull! lol I'm getting him out every couple days for 10-30 mins at a time. If he's playing and not acting stressed he stays out, but as soon as he starts getting skiddish and acting stressed, its time to go back in. I've had him a week today. He won't come to me on his own yet, but he doesn't try to bit me either. I try not to push him, but I don't want him to get cage bound either. Were still working on the trust issues. I think he trusts me to a point but we have a long ways to go yet.

[pretty_bird]

It sounds like you're doing all of the right things, and with all of the time you're putting into him, your relationship will be thriving in no time :) I'm glad everything is going better!

[Cosmo's Mom]

This is week 5 with Cosmo. He steps up and he will sit on my shoulder, but when he does he still hides in my hair. I think he is still somewhat skittish. He is afraid of every toy in his cage and if we try to intorduce something besides millet when he is out, he tries to fly away. Obviously each bird has their own personality and I think we just have to work within their timeframe rather than ours. It sounds like you are doing fine--I think we just want them to love us back like we love them and they need time to develop trust.

[Lacedolphin]

I've left the door open to the cage all day and he won't even get near it to come out. :( Suggestions??

[Donna]

My newest baby that I've only had a couple of weeks will jump right out of the cage if I open the door. And it really surprises me because he's the only one of my 5 that has done that on his own without a little coaxing. I really haven't had the time to hardly work with him yet, but he seems to be coming along pretty well. I have had to keep him in our bedroom since the other rooms are occupied with other Budgies and he is still in quarantine. Considering the fact that my newest Budgie hasn't had any music or sounds to keep him occupied, it surprises me that he's coming along as quickly as he is. I am thrilled that he is staying on my finger longer than when I first held him. I just go slow and keep him next to his cage (when I work with him) and he is very comfortable with that. If he gets a little skiddish then he can just fly right to his cage and go in if he wants to. I am able to talk softly to him and give him kisses and he stays calm, so that is good. :)

My lutino (that I just got last month) is really the closest sweetheart I have. She is on her last day of quarantine but I think I'll keep her separate from my others because she is so calm and loving and I don't want to lose the bond I have with her. She wants to be with a family member every chance she gets, and it makes me melt every time she hops on my finger. She would just as soon sit on me than to move around and play. :D

As far as my other Budgies go, they don't come running to me (after having them for 4 months) so try not to expect too much right now. I'm not saying that it can't or won't happen for you, but I just don't know of too many people who actually have their Budgies come running to them unless they are extra blessed. I only have one Budgie (out of the 3 that I had eating from the palm of my hand) that will hop on my finger for one short moment, and that's it. The other two just run.

That's a great idea to keep your Budgie's cage on the computer desk. That way he can feel comfortable to go to it if he chooses. It sounds like you are doing fairly well for only having your little guy for a week. Just don't expect too much, too soon. It takes a lot of time. And yes, it is probably best for all of us to focus on working with ONE new Budgie at a time because I have two and it isn't easy splitting your time between them both.

Hang in there, and HAVE FUN!

Donna